My first opportunity to know Sylvia Plath and to read her work was by way of her only novel: The Bell Jar.

Being a Psychology major then in Cebu in the ’90s, someone referred me to this particular work of hers. I was told that it would help me to get into the mind, the thoughts of someone who was said to suffer mental illness which was what the book was about. But then when I attended a writing workshop (my first one), one of the panelists there commented that my poetry was dark and reminded him of Sylvia Plath. His views sparked my interest to look up her poetry.

Sylvia Plath lived a tragic life but what beautiful poetry she wrote! I would like to share here one of her “more positive” poems which dealt with the birth of her child.

Morning Song

Love set you going like a fat gold watch.The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cryTook its place among the elements.